Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

    

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

Tiny Overview

Wade Watts unlocks the new stage of the OASIS - the ONI. With this new technology, people are able to stick their brains into the machine and directly feel, taste and hear everything, as if they were really there. Using this, Wade and the rest of the High Five unlock the last easter egg that was left by Halliday.

Themes:

• Sci-Fi
• Cli-Fi
• Fantasy 
• Adventure
• Young Adult
• Adventure
• Class
• Dystopia
• Friendship
• Identity
• Inequality

Context

Cline started writing this book in late 2017, and it was finally published in late 2020.

My Waffling

I have to say that I agree with Samantha (Art3mis) on this one. I will not plug my head into a machine. 

I loved that we learnt more about Halliday, Og, and Kira. I loved how we learnt more about their lives, how they interacted and what actually happened. 

This books pace was different from it's predecessor, as instead of being set over a couple of years everything happened in around 12 hours. This led to no struggling, no pondering, no figuring anything out. It seemed as if all the clues were curated to fit some niche interest that at least one of them had. I don't know if it is because I had a gap in between books, but these interests didn't really seem to flow. It felt like the interests were given to them there in that moment to be convenient. There was no time for faffing. 

There was hardly any world building, I am guessing it is due to the reader knowing everything from the previous book. 

Similar to Spacehopper, there was a lot of explaining, justification, repeat. All the clues were the same but in a new location. This meant that there was even less character development for lil ol Wade and he's still a weirdo. Samantha is way too good for him. The rest of the cast is genuinely doing things with their lives, while he rots away - at least he has eyebrows this time. He's finally like his hero, sexist, weird and alone. 

I read it, had to force my way through the Prince battle. It seemed that not even Cline knew what was going on there, there was a lot of confusion and the word 'Prince' was mentioned too many times. I struggled a bit with the Lord of the Rings bit, but I think that was all on me. I have tried to get into it, but I just can't wrap my head around it. It is a big part of my childhood, as it was always on growing up and it makes me sad that I can't understand it. 

In the beginning we get introduced to a new set of characters, who get nicknamed the 'L0w Five'. They did nothing. They got introduced, started the whole story, eventually met with the rest of the cast, and then got sent off on a quest that ended the book. They did a lot of heavy lifting, especially for characters we only meet twice. L0hengrin had two genuine interactions, and the rest of her mates only had one. Even then, it was when Wade was listening in. 

The ending of the book was strange. With it ending on a positive AI note. Big no from me. I don't think he will be so happy about AI and treating them as people when they take over writing. I think I was generous with my rating.

3/5

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Tiny Overview

James Halliday died, and has left behind billions of dollars, as well as the legacy and fortune of the OASIS. Anybody can have it. As long as they can find it. 

Wade Watts is poor and lives with his abusive Aunt in a stack of caravans. In 2045, the world is ravaged by climate change, starvation and poverty - everybody seeks refuge in the OASIS to ignore their everyday life. The hunt for easter eggs to find JDH's fortune has been ignored in the media for years, until Wade finally cracks the first step.

1984 by George Orwell

 

1984 by George Orwell

Tiny Overview

Countries do not exist, only three superstates that fight over a small landmass near the equator. They are forever at war, and always have been. The citizens undergo mass surveillance, manipulation, propaganda and any sort of individualism is punished. Formally London, Winston Smith lives in Airstrip one where he works in the Ministry of Truth, where he changes the past to reflect the 'truth', and Winston starts questioning things. Not the best idea, when Big Brother is Always Watching You.

The Last Murder At The End of The World by Stuart Turton

   

The Last Murder At The End of The World by Stuart Turton

Tiny Overview

The world has been encapsulated by a fog with glowing insects in it. It is being kept at bay by a fence to protect a small Greek island. The fence fails due to a murder. Now the people of the island need to find out who did it to be able to get the fence back up to protect themselves. 

More Perfect by Temi Oh

More Perfect by Temi Oh

Tiny Overview

Orpheus lives on an off-shore island with his Dad, completely disconnected from the world. But why? Why does he live in fear, doing drills under his Father's command?

In a near future London, Moremi is a late bloomer - technologically speaking. Everyone has a Pulse implanted other than her, and she feels left out. Shortly after getting one, tragedy strikes London, and her life along with many others are ruined.

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

Tiny Overview

In Prospera, death and aging does not exist. People live in luxury, living to over 100. When they have reached the end of their lifespan, they sail over to the nursery. This is where they are reprogrammed and reset to 16 - then rereleased to Prospera. People have no previous memories of their lives, and this recycling process is kept for the elite. Rebellion is brewing in the Annex, as they are kept in subpar conditions, and they have had enough.